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Here’s How Much You Need To Earn To Be ‘Rich’ in Every State

August 11, 2025

8 min Read

Written by Andrew Lisa

Edited by Chris Cluff

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The cost of living is widely different across America. Being “rich” in one state might mean tough living in another. Of course, “rich” is a subjective term, and where you live has a lot to do with whether you can consider yourself truly wealthy.

To get an idea of what it looks like to be rich in America, GOBankingRates used census data to conduct a study of the top incomes as they break down by state. It lays out what income level is needed to place you in the top 20% and the top 5% of incomes within your state.

Check out how much money you need to be “rich” in your state.

50. Mississippi

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $113,688
Average income of the top 20%: $197,470
Average income of the top 5%: $346,882

49. West Virginia

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $116,599
Average income of the top 20%: $197,286
Average income of the top 5%: $340,667

48. Arkansas

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $117,425
Average income of the top 20%: $212,270
Average income of the top 5%: $385,873

47. Kentucky

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $123,991
Average income of the top 20%: $219,022
Average income of the top 5%: $395,106

Today’s Top Offers

46. Oklahoma

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $125,328
Average income of the top 20%: $219,134
Average income of the top 5%: $389,979

45. Alabama

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $126,786
Average income of the top 20%: $219,518
Average income of the top 5%: $384,048

44. New Mexico

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $127,403
Average income of the top 20%: $216,944
Average income of the top 5%: $373,030

43. Louisiana

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $127,473
Average income of the top 20%: $223,489
Average income of the top 5%: $394,301

42. Tennessee

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $132,078
Average income of the top 20%: $238,504
Average income of the top 5%: $435,202

41. Indiana

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $132,444
Average income of the top 20%: $226,387
Average income of top 5%: $396,992

40. South Carolina

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $132,847
Average income of the top 20%: $237,160
Average income of the top 5%: $428,094

39. Montana

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $133,497
Average income of the top 20%: $237,041
Average income of the top 5%: $430,052

38. South Dakota

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $133,630
Average income of the top 20%: $230,785
Average income of the top 5%: $414,593

37. Missouri

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $133,864
Average income of the top 20%: $234,836
Average income of the top 5%: $420,563

Today’s Top Offers

36. Ohio

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $136,246
Average income of the top 20%: $237,659
Average income of the top 5%: $420,966

35. Iowa

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $136,582
Average income of the top 20%: $231,690
Average income of the top 5%: $405,907

34. Idaho

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $137,435
Average income of the top 20%: $240,204
Average income of the top 5%: $431,824

33. Wyoming

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $138,279
Average income of the top 20%: $235,402
Average income of the top 5%: $417,388

32. Maine

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $138,318
Average income of the top 20%: $237,505
Average income of the top 5%: $418,624

31. North Carolina

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $139,072
Average income of the top 20%: $249,042
Average income of top 5%: $446,248

30. Kansas

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $139,295
Average income of the top 20%: $240,712
Average income of the top 5%: $425,080

29. Michigan

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $139,438
Average income of the top 20%: $240,130
Average income of the top 5%: $419,606

28. Nebraska

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $140,577
Average income of the top 20%: $247,090
Average income of the top 5%: $447,231

27. Wisconsin

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $141,120
Average income of the top 20%: $238,669
Average income of the top 5%: $418,668

Today’s Top Offers

26. Florida

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $141,755
Average income of the top 20%: $266,051
Average income of the top 5%: $499,610

25. North Dakota

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $143,797
Average income of the top 20%: $246,410
Average income of the top 5%: $437,736

24. Nevada

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $144,671
Average income of the top 20%: $258,414
Average income of top 5%: $470,305

23. Arizona

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $148,072
Average income of the top 20%: $259,767
Average income of the top 5%: $461,363

22. Georgia

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $148,795
Average income of the top 20%: $264,953
Average income of the top 5%: $472,175

21. Vermont

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $150,413
Average income of the top 20%: $252,655
Average income of top 5%: $434,633

20. Pennsylvania

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $150,592
Average income of the top 20%: $266,309
Average income of the top 5%: $473,542

19. Texas

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $153,315
Average income of the top 20%: $272,904
Average income of the top 5%: $487,366

18. Oregon

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $155,529
Average income of the top 20%: $269,437
Average income of the top 5%: $470,649

17. Delaware

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $157,599
Average income of the top 20%: $266,218
Average income of the top 5%: $463,843

Today’s Top Offers

16. Illinois

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $162,124
Average income of the top 20%: $289,355
Average income of the top 5%: $521,013

15. Rhode Island

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $163,286
Average income of the top 20%: $276,548
Average income of the top 5%: $477,607

14. Utah

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $163,548
Average income of the top 20%: $276,288
Average income of the top 5%: $483,169

13. Minnesota

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $164,585
Average income of the top 20%: $282,691
Average income of the top 5%: $497,204

12. Alaska

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $169,423
Average income of the top 20%: $270,877
Average income of the top 5%: $445,464

11. Colorado

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $178,141
Average income of the top 20%: $307,101
Average income of the top 5%: $538,026

10. New Hampshire

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $178,658
Average income of the top 20%: $297,363
Average income of the top 5%: $507,282

9. New York

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $178,953
Average income of the top 20%: $342,150
Average income of the top 5%: $646,648

8. Virginia

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $182,550
Average income of the top 20%: $316,724
Average income of the top 5%: $547,015

7. Washington

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $184,482
Average income of the top 20%: $325,947
Average income of the top 5%: $574,868

Today’s Top Offers

6. Hawaii

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $186,867
Average income of the top 20%: $310,254
Average income of the top 5%: $526,148

5. Connecticut

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $189,778
Average income of the top 20%: $358,875
Average income of the top 5%: $676,016

4. Maryland

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $195,516
Average income of the top 20%: $327,400
Average income of the top 5%: $554,828

3. California

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $196,525
Average income of the top 20%: $356,382
Average income of the top 5%: $638,872

2. New Jersey

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $203,882
Average income of the top 20%: $359,314
Average income of the top 5%: $632,685

1. Massachusetts

The minimum you need to make to be in the top 20%: $205,889
Average income of the top 20%: $364,076
Average income of the top 5%: $642,510

Methodology: GOBankingRates used the United States Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey income quintile data to find each state’s (1) lowest income to be considered in the top 20% income bracket; (2) the average income of the richest 20% and (3) the average income of the richest 5%. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Feb. 3, 2025.

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